Who Is Eric Braeden’s Wife? All About Dale Russell Gudegast

Eric Braeden and his wife, Dale Russell Gudegast, have been married for more than 50 years.

Long-standing Young and restless star married the interior designer in 1966 after they met in college. They have one son, writer and director Christian Gudegast, and three grandchildren.

“I adore them,” Braeden told PEOPLE of his family in 2020. “Nothing makes me happier than seeing them.”

Braeden, born Hans-Jörg Gudegast, played Victor Newman on the soap for most of his marriage, joining the cast in 1980. Through it all, the Emmy Award winner remained grateful for the support of his wife and family.

“I am deeply grateful to have worked with such great colleagues over the years and to have had the great support of my family, my wife,” he told PEOPLE. “You know, I consider myself very lucky.”

The actor also has no plans to retire anytime soon, sharing with PEOPLE in 2021, “I love my life. … I love my colleagues. I love my family and friends. Do I see myself retiring anytime soon? Hell no! My life has been enriched by meeting so many things.”

So who is Eric Braeden’s wife? Here’s everything you need to know about Dale Russell Gudegast and her relationship with the soap star.

She and Braeden met in college

Christian Gudegast, Dale Gudegast and Eric Braeden at the 2007 Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Barry King/WireImage

While studying economics and philosophy at Santa Monica College, Braeden met his future wife, who was enrolled in an art degree.

“She went to a Catholic school,” he said Montananadding that “she was well-educated, very knowledgeable in European literature… so there was an affinity.”

Since the days of their love in college, Gudegast has worked as a cushion and interior designer, but tries to keep her life and career out of the spotlight.

They welcomed their son Christian in 1970

Christian Gudegast, Gale Gudegast and Eric Braeden.

Mark Sullivan/WireImage

Braeden and Gudegast’s son, Christian, was born in February 1970.

Christian is a screenwriter and director. His writing credits include A separate man (2003), London has fallen (2016) and Den of thieves (2018), which he also produced and directed. According to Deadline, Gudegast wrote and directed the upcoming sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Panther.

“My son is undoubtedly the greatest gift in my life and always has been,” Braeden told PEOPLE in 2021. “We talk to each other almost every night.”

The actor also said about his wife: “My wife is beautiful. She is a forgiving, understanding woman and a wonderful mother to our son Christian.”

In 2009, Christian married his wife Natasha, a jewelry designer.

He has three granddaughters

Eric Braeden with son Christian Gudegast and grandson at the 40th anniversary of CBS’s “Young And The Restless” on February 7, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.

Ella Hovsepian/Getty

Braeden and Gudegast are the proud grandparents of their son Christian’s three daughters.

Christian has one daughter, Tatiana, from a previous relationship, and shares daughters Oksana and Angelika with his wife Natasha. Braeden often shares photos and updates about Tatiana on Instagram and Xu (formerly Twitter), keeping his two younger granddaughters private.

The soap star told PEOPLE in 2021, “There’s nothing like being a grandfather to your three granddaughters: Tatiana, Oksana and Angelika. Anything they want, boom.”

He added: “My family means the world to me, because at the end of the day, who else do you have?”

Braeden consults with her before making decisions

Eric Braeden, his wife, Dale, and their son, Christian, celebrate Braeden’s 25th anniversary playing Victor Newman’s iconic character in “The Young and the Restless” in 2005.

Amanda Edwards/Getty

Despite Braeden’s high-profile career, Gudegast has largely stayed out of the spotlight, save for a few rare appearances. She celebrated Braeden’s 25th anniversary Young and restless in 2005, supported her husband when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007 and attended a book signing with the actor in 2017.

Behind the scenes, Gudegast was always a reliable influence on her husband.

“Because Dale is so closed off, people don’t realize how much she influences what I do or don’t do,” Braeden wrote in a bio on his website. “I make many decisions only after consulting with her. She has provided me with support and a calming influence in my life.”

As for how Gudegast would describe her husband, she told PEOPLE in 1997 that he was “sweet like no one else can be.”

She supports her husband

Eric Braeden and Dale Gudegast at the “I’ll Be Damned” Book Signing at Barnes & Noble at The Grove on February 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, CA.

Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock

Gudegast has been with her husband since before his career in Hollywood even started.

“My wife has supported me since we knew each other, long before I became famous,” Braeden said Coming of age magazine in 2011. “I have a huge sense of deep devotion to her and we were very supportive of each other. She was a special support and gave me a wonderful family.”

In addition to supporting him, Braeden also revealed the secrets of their healthy and happy relationship. “I would say the most important thing is not only to love the person, but to really like the person.”

He added: “It means that you like who they are, that you like being with them. You like talking to them. You obviously share the most extraordinary things in life with them.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education